Leading nutritionist and author Alex Kirchin visited West Cork recently to help people from across the city and county get set for the cold season.

The experienced nutritionist, who has an impressive portfolio and has worked as a nutritional advisor to the BBC, presented a seminar at the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery where he provided advice on how to treat winter coughs and colds and how to deal with painful joints during the winter months.

At the event, Mr Kirchin also shared his top tips on how to stay well in the winter and avoid getting sick at all by stocking up on favourites such as vitamin C and Echinacea, as well as new, lesser known bug-busting herbs such as Astragalus which helps stimulate the immune system whilst also improving digestion.

According to Alex Kirchin, as winter approaches there are a number of remedies to add to your first-aid cupboard.He suggests that people who suffer from chest infections should consider supplements such as Elecampane, Oregon Grape and Plantain. Elecampane helps with all pulmonary and catarrhal problems, while Oregon Grape has a high content of the alkaloids, berberine, hydrastine and canadine, which have strong antibiotic activity against a wide variety of harmful organisms including staphylococcus and streptococcus. Meanwhile Plantain acts as a gentle expectorant whilst also soothing inflamed membranes.

Kirchin says that people who suffer from sore throats should consider supplementing their diet with olive leaf and sage. Research has identified a chemical in olive leaf known as elenolic acid, with strong inhibitory effects on the growth of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. It appears to offer healing effects not addressed by pharmaceutical antibiotics. Meanwhile studies show that oils found in sage have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties

For cold sore sufferers, Lysine is an important alternative which will help reduce the appearance of sores while elderberry has proved useful in helping to minimise earache and fever.

All of the above are available from Viridian Nutrition. For details of your nearest stockist log www.viridian-nutrition.com.

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